At a Glance

Two Alabama schools closed for the rest of the week because the flu wreaked havoc on staff and students.

Two public school districts and one private school in northern Mississippi were closed Friday

A North Carolina county's school district canceled classes for both students and staff on Friday

Three Idaho school districts were forced to close because of the flu.

An outbreak of the flu this week in Alabama, Idaho, North Carolina, Mississippi has closed multiple schools, with school officials struggling to find enough healthy teachers to teach.

According to the latest CDC Influenza report, 25 states are experiencing high levels of the virus. The CDC's measure (as shown in the map above) shows how outpatient flu visits to hospitals compare to geographic averages when there's no flu.

45 states are reporting "widespread" flu activity, a measure of the rate of spread of the flu virus, according to the CDC's report.

Alabama

The schools were closed for the last three days of the week because of the number of cases of flu among students and employees.

Lawrence County Schools Superintendent Jon Bret Smith told news outlets that Moulton Elementary School and Moulton Middle School would be closed Wednesday through Friday.

Smith said the school system is having trouble finding substitute teachers because of staff absences.

School officials said families should use the three days off to recover from the illness. Smith said anyone with flu should stay home for at least five days.

School employees planned to clean and sanitize both schools during the time off.

The closure does not apply to Lawrence County High School.

Moulton is about 45 miles southwest of Huntsville.

Mississippi

Two public school districts and one private school in northern Mississippi were closed Friday because of an increase in flu cases.

News outlets reported that the North Tippah School District and the South Tippah School District canceled classes because of the illness. Tupelo Christian Preparatory School was also closed.

The Tippah school districts reported nearly 350 students were absent Thursday.

North Tippah School District Superintendent Bill Brand said closing the school would allow staff to clean each classroom thoroughly to help remove the germs that cause influenza.

North Carolina

Ashe County Public Schools canceled classes for both students and staff on Friday because of a local increase in flu cases. Superintendent Phyllis Yates says 452 students were out sick from the system’s five schools and early learning center. Another 38 students who came to school were sent home.

Yates also says 30 teachers are out sick and substitutes couldn’t be found to replace them.

Yates said work crews would deep clean and disinfect the schools on Friday with hopes of reopening on Monday.

Idaho

Three Idaho school districts have been forced to close amid one of the state's worst flu seasons in recent memory.

Firth, Shelley and Fremont school districts in eastern Idaho recently have closed their schools because of the high number of absent students sick with flu-like illnesses, the Idaho State Journal reported .

Health officials are strongly encouraging parents to keep their children home from school if they're sick. They also are urging everyone to wash their hands as much as possible.

Firth School District's schools closed Monday because of the flu. Shelley School District announced its schools would be closed Monday and Tuesday.

The Fremont School District shut down Friday after nearly a third of its students didn't attend Thursday because of flu-like illnesses. The district announced inclement weather led its schools to close again Monday.

The Madison County School District also is reeling from the flu. Three of its schools shut down last week after teachers and students got sick.

"It falls out of the air and lands on a shopping cart, remote controls and doorknobs," Eastern Idaho Public Health surveillance epidemiologist Mike Taylor said. "Wash your hands frequently. When you leave a public area, sanitize and wash your hands."

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